Ask 10 shepherds how they manage their flock in each season, and you’ll probably get 10 different answers. Although the details will vary depending on the needs of each homestead, their responses will have some commonalities. Food, water, and shelter are three things every person raising sheep is concerned about, and to top it off, we’re all thinking at least one season ahead!
Don’t get me wrong, I make sure to enjoy the present, especially when the weather is warm and the lambs are bouncing around their mothers on fresh, green grass. But that won’t last, and I need to plan as best I can to keep my flock healthy and safe all year. What’s happening with the sheep each season, and what does planning a season ahead look like at Innisfree on the Stillwater?
Make Hay While the Sun Shines
I keep two separate flocks of Shetland sheep. The main flock consists of the ram and my fiber wethers. The second flock is the non-breeding and nursery flock, which comprises my retired ewes, mamas, new lambs, and lambs too young to be bred. The main flock
